Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-03-12
LITERARY REVIEW.
less.

One of the latest books issued from the
press is "Jess," by R. Rider Haggard.
The author is newly risen light upon
the literary horizon and though this light
has metor-like characteristics, it bids
fair to burn steadily and long.
Mr.. Haggard has an imagination of
flame, but it is perfectly and admirably
controlled. The bold genius of the new
writer won instant recognition from the
reading world when he gave to it that
marvellous creation "She," the 'ever
glorious" With "She" Mr.. Haggard's
success was an accomplished fact. Dar-
ingly launched, his ventursome literary
bark was borne straight onward by un-
trained but powerful strokes over the
rough and uncertain waves of public
favor, to a safe and sure anchorage. Mr..
Haggard's name is now its own guar
antee.
Radically different in plot and finish to
"She," his new novel "Jess" is a true
offspring of Mr.. Haggard's peculiar
genius, and bears throughout his I'M
mistakable ear marks. The same
fiery originality forces recognition and
brands itself upon the attention.
"Jess" is a tale of Southern Africa,
with the scene laid in the Transvaal. Jess
herself is the heroine, and upon her turns
all of the interest of the story. The time
is just prior to, and during the successful
revolt of the Beers against the British
Government. The action of the story be-
gins at Transvaal ostrich farm, owned
by Silas Croft, sturdy Englisnman, who
is approaching the sere and yellow leaf of
life mostly spent beneath the torrid rays
of an African sum- With him live his two
nieces, Jess and Bessie Croft, English
born, but Transvaal bred. To this family
comes Captain John Neil, late of the
English army, as part owner of the farm
old Silas Croft can no longer look after
himself. Neil is an English gentleman,
honest, true and brave, and while riding
toward the old farm house for the first
time has the good fortune to rescue sweet
Bessie Croft from the dangerous attack
of savage cock ostrich, for which SER
vice Bessie rewards him by falling in love
with him on the spot.
Before Neil and Bessie reach the farm
house they are met by Jess, who at once
assumes the domination of the story.
Bessie is lovely, with fair-skinned, blue
eyed lovliness, and character to match.
Jess is plain, but her features are lighted
with pair of dark eyes, in whose wide
depths can be read the story of a nature
passionate, yet reserved; strong, yet
gentle. Jess, too, falls in love with the
English Captain, and her love is as the
consuming torch to the feeble flicker of
Bessie's affection.
Neil, himself, engrossed in the novel
duties of managing Transvaal farm, is
for awhile impervious to Cupid's dart,
but is instinctively drawn towards Jess.
Suddenly Bessie, in a burst of sisterly |
confidence, confides her love for the
English Captain to Jess, and the latter,
with the self-sacrifce inherent to her
large nature, determines that she will |
not stand in her sisters way, and with
despair in her heart leaves the farm for a
visit to friends in a distant town of the
Transvaal. Left to the fascinations of
the clinging and gentle Bessie before his
heart had had time to declare in favor of
the nobler Jess, Captain Neil soon sur
renders at discretion and becomes Bes-
sizes betrothed lover.
But a second and fateful disturbing
element had already appeared upon the
scene in the person of Frank Muller, a
large landed proprietor of the district.
This man, is of mingled Boer and En-
glish parentage, is a native of the
fransVaal, wields great power and au-
lhority, is recklessly brave, as reck-